4 dedicated activity buttons * interactive display * navigation controls with extra keys for TiVo and ReplayTV commands * learns the IR codes from existing remote controls to quickly set up devices * 2MB flash memory * USB cable included * requires 4 "AAA" alkaline batteries (included) * 8-1/16"W x 1-5/16"H x 2-5/16"D * warranty: 1 year
1 The closest thing to the perfect remote
I though I found the best remote in the world when I found the Home theater Master MX-500. I was wrong. All of the complaints I had about the MX-500 were answered with this remote. A few of the examples are:
Smart State: Don't you hate when you go from DVD to listening to music but your remote either leaves a componet on or turns off a componet you will need. The Harmony knows what state it was left in and only turns on or off those componets necessary. For example to go from DVD to CD the remote turns off the TV and DVD player turns on the CD player puts the reciever to the CD input! It even has direct commands the manufacturer's remote does not have (like standby one button command from my TiVo; before I had to scroll through the menu).
Easy Programming: to program the remote hook it up to the computer and tell it what componets you have. You can further tweak it but in amtter of minutes your remote is programmed with Macros. It took me over an hour to program my MX-500 just to do basic functions.
Help Button: my wife loves this, if something is not right just hit the help button and a series of questions will be asked to guide you through the problem.
Easy to read backlight buttons: My MX-500 has a backlighting but I have to starin to read the LCD screen. My Sony RM-VL1000 (sucks by the way) the LCD screen cannot be read! Not so with the Harmony.
Easy command buttons: My wife loves this also, which is easier to remember hit M1 to turn on the appropriate componets to watch TV, M2 to do the same for DVD player and M3 for CD music or hit the button labled Watch TV, Watch DVD or Listen to CD? Personally I think the latter. That is ahow the buttons are labled on the harmony. I want ot play X-Box I hit the button labled play Video games! I want to turn everything off I hit the button labled Off.
No some negatives:
Kinda small: It can fit in one hand but it is a little small for all the features. If they made it as bug as the MX-500 (and as balanced) it would be the perfect remote.
Button sensitivty: The master command buttons ("Watch TV", "Watch DVD", ect..) need a little more force to activate then expected. However the playus side is I have never accidentaly turned off (or on) my system. My MX-500 if you brush the Macro buttons they will activate.
Advanced Features: The remote controls all the basic funations and whatever else you want but the more obscure/advanced features of a componet may be hidden under sub-menus (For example time button on my DVD player, this button puts on onscreen display of the time and lets you scroll through assorted time displays). I hardley ever notice these features missing.
If you want a remote to control everything with easy setup and use this is the remote. It will do 99+% of what the manufacturer's remote can do (or more) and can easily do 100% of what is normally used!
If you need those advanced features (and actually
2 The Only Remote you should ever need
I have been following the learning/programmable remote market for quite some time. I personally just setup a home theatre and have a stereo reciever, a cablebox with PVR, a DVD Player, of course a Television and I stream via iTunes Airtunes to the reciever for music. I purchased this remote locally, but wanted to recommend it for anyone using multiple devices that want to simplify their life.
The first such universal remote I tried was over two years ago and it was a Philips Pronto (original). I thought it was cool but lacked Macintosh support so I ended up returning it. At the time it was $600 USD. I waited for Philips to include Macintosh support and that never came. Enter a company called Harmony, liked their remote from the first time I saw one of their commercials, the price was WAY more reasonable and they had Macintosh support. Filed the info in the back of my head... fast forward to present time, Logitech (who I like to buy products from in general because they rarely if ever fail) bought the Harmony remote company... an additional plus. I decided on the 688 model because of future expansion.
I have had this remote one week now. I had it up and running within an hour out of the box controlling everything I own just like it was made for it. Wrote Support to let them know that I was a happy camper and so far have only had to reprogram once due to my forgetting to add a function I needed. It works flawlessly every time. You could not do better for the almost double the cost of the prontos! On the support note, they still answered me in a very timely manner (within 2 hours) not an auto responder, and they have another nice feature, a phone number.
5 stars for the only remote you should ever need! Oh and on one last side note, they have plans to support Linux... BRAVO to Logitech!
3 This is the one.
I tried the 659, 680 and 688. They all act identical- just different button layouts. The 688 is near-perfect. The best choice, hands down. The 659 is clean and simple, but the the reverse/fast forward controls are at the bottom. Slightly awkward. The 680 has way too many small buttons spread out in an unlogical way. Stay away from it unless you are self-destructive. After searching for ten years, I have finally found the one. If you're on a budget, get the 659. Otherwise save the trouble and go for the 688.
4 Very nice remote - but eats lots of batteries
I was able to go from 6 remotes down to 1. I have fairly new equipment and did not have any issues with the 688 working with all devices with ease. The Activity buttons are easy to setup and are wonderful to use. They allow to turn on & set all devices to the correct mode with the click of a single button. It used to take me 3-4 remotes to do the same thing when watching TV or the DVD player.
The web interface used to setup the remote is easy to use. The standard config 'pushed' to the device works well. I made quite a few changes to allow quicker access to buttons I frequently use. It is very easy to modify the standard configure.
One downside to the remote is that it eats batteries very quick. I have changed the batteries every 12 days (4 - AAA batteries). The batteries just die, basically no warning. I plan to invest in rechargables.
Not as pleased with the volume controls of the 688 when controlling my receiver. The Harmony changes the volume in 3db increments and is not very responsive. If I press the volume up 4 times, the receiver will go up 12db - and will take a little time to react to go back down in volume when pressing the volume down. The remote that came with the receiver moves in increments of .5db and responds immediately. I found a simple workaround that allows for increments of 'only' 1.5db using the Harmony. I press the volume button while directed at the receiver and then immediately cover the IR of the remote. I was able to get used to the volume controls and am very happy with the remote.
The remote works well with my new DIRECTV HD TiVo HR10-250. That was a key component for the remote to control.
It would be a 5 star if not for the battery and volume control issues.
5 Flawless setup
After installing the software, it took about 5 minutes to setup up the remote. Everything worked perfectly the first time. Yes, the buttons are a tad small, but well-worth that very minor flaw.
6 Harmony 688
Like many others out there, my home entertainment system was a mess of remotes [4 in all with usually one or more of them under the couch or in some other God-forsaken place]. I could use the system pretty well, but my wife and daughter were constantly using the wrong settings [a little analog picture instead of HD, for example] and overall, they were very intimadated with the whole setup. I know, this sounds a lot like the Logitech ad, but it is true.
I purchased the 688 in an effort mostly to make things easier for them...and I was also somewhat curious after I read the ad in an electronics catalog. My wife received the first two seasons of Raymond for Christmas on DVD and she wanted to be able to watch them when I was not around to keep her out of trouble. [Actually, I prefer NOT to be around when she has her Raymond marathons].
I was not disappointed. THIS DEVICE IS ABSOLUTLY FANTASTIC! The initial setup was simple and went perfectly according to the Installation Booklet. Setting up and configuring my components was equally as simple...it even recognized a 15 year old Mitsu VCR, which I seldom use. Everything worked perfectly the FIRST time. I was expecting a big setup battle, like with so many other usb devices, but I didn't get one. Wow!!
A couple of things: 1 - The Longitech web page didn't like my Mozilla browser initially, but I just went on with the process and everything worked out fine. 2 - The buttons are a tad small, especially the Activity Buttons...but, I'll learn to live with them.
This product is outstanding. I would recommend it to anyone.
7 not perfect but the best i have seen...
I have owned a few different universal remotes in my life and some have been good, others not. This is the best i have seen although not perfect.
Pros:
-Small and stylish
-VERY universal (knows most electronics including Xbox and Media center computers)
-designed for tivo and DVRs
-Online set-up can be simple or complex depending on what you want to be able to do (I actually liked the complexity. it allowed me to get things just how i wanted them)
-Actual buttons not touch screen
-The Activity buttons are better than any i have ever seen. The remote knows what condition you system is in so that when you switch activities it will turn off what is not needed and turn on the new devices. And if you use multiple inputs on your TV it will change the input as programed. This means no more scrolling through them. This is the only remote that i have seen that can do that (although there are others im sure)
Cons:
-Not great button design (small and different shapes)
Thats really about it!!!!
All i can say is that if you are looking for a remote that can be made to do whatever you want it to and has buttons not a touch screen, this is the one for you. It is a very smart remote for the price
8 Rough start - but with a little trial and error, it's good
I purchased this device because of the manufacturer's review here. My initial thought was - wow - this will be a breeze to have, much better than the Sony universal remote (the one that looks like a mini-computer). And, for the most part, that's right.
Overall, as I use the device, I do find it of value and like the ability of the device to quickly learn and correct itself. But, I did have a rough start. I would recommend for someone buying the device to read the install booklet and THEN the user guide (online) prior to setting up your system. It will definitely make it much, much easier.
I've found it relatively easy to use, once it's been set-up. I do admit that the set-up was a challenge at first (and I'm tech savvy). So, I wasted about two hours initially.
What's important to know is that once you start setting up the system, you really can't go back until you've done the initial install. So, as the other reviewer noted, have all the information about your system set-up (make, model, remotes handy, etc.). You'll need it.
I called the help desk and the first time they really couldn't help until I had finished the initial install. The 2nd time I called, they were able to assist me (with my Dish TV PVR set-up).
The jury is still out on it - I gave it 4 stars for the overall ability/ease of use. I'll come back and rerate (lower) in the next few days if I don't get a few kinks knocked out (i.e. not all the devices turn off/on when I command - it's primarily the dish TV box).
9 Less fiddling, but tiny buttons
As anyone with multiple electronic devices knows, less is better when it comes to remotes. One remote that does everything would be ideal. This one has a couple of killer features: Internet-based setup via USB, and "state awareness". With the Harmony 688, you merely install the driver, plug it into a USB port on your PC, and use Logitech's web-based configuration utility. Only in the rarest of circumstances will you need to point your existing remote and "learn" by pressing buttons (but you can do this if needed). Configuration can be arduous, but only because of the large number of parameters. It's easier to set up than other universal remotes although the configuration Web site could be easier to use. For example, if you want to customize buttons for each device, you click "My Remote Preferences", whereas setting up the activities and their related buttons takes place in a different menu. It took me about an hour to do the initial setup, and a couple of short tweaks later I was done (I had initially chosen the wrong audio input mode for the DVD activity).
The 688 uses an "activity" paradigm ("watch tv", "listen to music", etc.) Each activity is a functional mode of operation, combining the required macros, punch-throughs, and custom button definitions. The very best part of this remote is the state awareness. It remembers which devices are turned on, and can negotiate sequential input values (the ones where you cycle through each setting until you hit the one you want). This remote really reduces the amount of fiddling around, and lets you get down to the business of being entertained. For example, if you want to watch a DVD you simply select that activity. All of the appropriate devices are then turned on and the proper settings are selected. My TV's TV/Video selector cycles through the active inputs. You can't use standard macro programming to get around this problem, but the 688 doesn't skip a beat. It knows exactly how everything is set.
Prior to beginning the setup process, do your homework. Jot down all your brands/model numbers, which devices use which inputs for each activity, and the order of any cycled inputs. It's much easier if your computer is in the same room for setup (no problem if your setup includes a PC; laptop owners should consider using the laptop). The PC connection is only required for the initial setup.
PROS:
* Easy to configure, lots of options.
* Knows which devices are on, eliminating fuddling at TV time. This alone is worth the price of admission.
* Non-volatile memory; if your batteries die your settings are safe.
* Perfect for setups with TiVo or satelllite; can handle systems with both.
* Knows what a Turtle Beach Audiotron is!
CONS:
* Dinky buttons.
* Volume controls are "sticky", not as responsive as I'd like.
* Initial configuration can be daunting due to number of options. Default device configurations are lengthy and take some time to edit. Default activity configs are set up well, nice because this is where you will spend most of your time.
* Web configuration could be set up more intuitively; some devices are not listed, and input values were incorrect for at least one of my devices. This is a minor quibble, it just requires a little extra initial effort.
